[Experimental study of preventing liver cirrhosis by using four kinds of Chinese herbs]

55 rats were divided into six groups; (1) normal control, (2) cirrhosis control, (3-6) Chinese herbs groups, 2-6 groups were liver cirrhosis model caused by combined factor dominated by CCl4, and 3-6 groups were given Chinese herbs simultaneously until the end of sixth week. Radix Salviae miltlorrhizae (RSM) were used in group 3, Flos Carthami (FC) in group 4, Radix Angelicae sinensis (RAS) in group 5, Semen persicae (SP) in group 6.

in group 2, 7 out of 9 rats developed into cirrhosis, the degree of fibrosis was 2.55+ and collagen protein content was 35.3 mg/g.liver, SGPT 387u. In group 3(RSM), no cirrhosis was found, the degree of the fibrosis was 0.43+ (compared with group 2, P < 0.01, collagen protein content was 16.7 mg/g.liver (P < 0.01), SGPT 132u (P < 0.01). In group 4(FC), 8 out of 9 rats did not develop into cirrhosis, collagen content 21.1 mg/g.liver, compared with group 2, P < 0.05. In the group of 5 and 6, some rats were developed into cirrhosis. The result showed that RSM and FC possessed an inhibitory effect on fibrogenesis. The effect of RSM was remarkable. It could prevent experimental cirrhosis. The effect of RAS and SP were uncertain. This experiment predicted that RAM would become the promising drug to restrain chronic hepatic disease from developing into cirrhosis clinically.